FDNY Honors 43rd Anniversary of the Tragic 23rd Street Fire

Friends and family of those lost attended the wreath laying ceremony marking
the 43rd anniversary of the 23rd Street fire.
(L to R) Christine Priore, daughter of Lt. Joseph Priore of Engine 18; Deputy Assistant Chief John Sudnik, retired FF Manny Fernandez, who operated as the chauffeur for Engine 18 at the 23rd Street fire; and Firefighter Brian Finley, grandson of Lt. John J. Finley of Ladder 7.

Oct. 17, 1966 was a tragic day in the New York City Fire Department’s storied history, a day when 12 members died in the line of duty while operating at a fire at the Wonder Drug store on Manhattan’s 23rd Street.

And each year, on the anniversary of the tragedy, firefighters past and present still come together to remember the lives lost that day.

“In the FDNY, honor and history are held in high regard,” said Deputy Assistant Chief John Sudnik during the wreath laying ceremony. “The legacy of these 12 men lives on through every one of our firefighters. We will never forget.”

The deadly five-alarm fire, which occurred on the corner of Broadway, represented the single worst loss of New York City firefighters in the line of duty prior to Sept. 11, 2001.

Twelve members of every rank, from a probationary firefighter to a deputy chief, made the Supreme Sacrifice when the ground floor of the store collapsed. The fire originated in a basement storage area, which was concealed by a four-inch thick cinderblock wall illegally constructed by the building’s previous owner.

Firefighter Michael Cook rings a bell as the names of each of the 12 members
who died in the 23rd Street fire are read.

Those killed in the fire included Deputy Chief Thomas A. Reilly and Firefighter William F. McCarron, both of Division 3; Battalion Chief Walter J. Higgins of Battalion 7; Lieutenant Joseph Priore, Firefighter James V. Galanaugh, Firefighter Joseph Kelly, Firefighter Daniel L. Rey and Firefighter Bernard A. Tepper, all of Engine 18; and Lieutenant John J. Finley, Firefighter John G. Berry, Firefighter Rudolph F. Kaminsky and Firefighter Carl Lee, all of Ladder 7.

More than 150 firefighters attended the ceremony, along with many retired members who worked with those who were lost.

Also attending the ceremony was Firefighter Brian Finley, whose grandfather was killed in the 23rd Street fire nearly seven years before he was born. He has worked out of Ladder 7, his grandfather’s firehouse, for nine years.